Method of and apparatus for forming fibrous-pulp receptacles



June 12, 1928.

J. B. HAWLEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING FIBROUS PULP RECEPTACLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 13 1921 Jsse MN W June-12, 192s. 1,673,047

J. B. HAWLEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING FIBROUS PULP RECEPTACLES Original Filed 'April 13. 1921 4 sheets sheet 2 A ,Zfljfn f0 7.- ZUE in 665: 556 3.5a Zl/Zil],

June 12, 1928.

J. B. HAWLEY IETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING FIBROUS PULT RECEPTACLES Original Filed April 13: 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING FIBROUS PULP RECEPTACLES Original Filed April 13- 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 o o o MfWW Patented June 12, 1928.

UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IEssE B. IIAWLEY, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MEsNE AssIoNMENTs, To

I ARvEY MANUFACTURING (30., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

MET OD OF AND APPAR TUS FOR FORMING FIBRoUs-PUL R cEPTAoLEs.

Continuation of application Serial No. 461,131, filed April 13, 1921.

Serial No. 19,894.

While I have illustrated and will describe m) invention as applied in the production of a seamless fibrous pulp pail, I wish it to be understood that other-forms of fibrous pulp containers, such as tubs, barrels, boxes and the like, may be made thereby, without departing from the spirit of my invention. This invention contemplates the manufac ture of a containen'or the like, from such raw material as a cellulose fibrous material, which is so handled in my improved process that the fibers are felted, which condition is intensified when presure is .exerted. The raw material thus treated to bring it into felted form possesses from two to three times more strength than if'the pulp were merely pressed, irrespective of any particular lay of the fibers. Also, by using this so-called felted process, a more compact wall is produced. Should ifl be desired to treat containers made according to this process by subjecting them to a waterproofing or greaseproofing treatme1'1t, in the nature of a dip or an impregnator, a far better result is obtained, because there are fewer ends of the fibers extending perpendicularly from the wall of the container to act as a wick. Also, by treating the pulp as contemplatedin this invention, the pressing operation is greatly simplified. V a

Many important advantages are achieved by the present invention, among the more salient of which may be mentioned the following: A large percentage of the water is extracted from the pulp in the felting apparatus, thus leaving a smaller amount of water to be extracted in the pressing apparatus, which is the expensive part of the machine, both from the standpoint of initial cost and upkeep. The pulp in the felted condition ,is muc h easier to handle in the press, due to the fact that there is not the tendency nor the opportunity for the fibers to get into the drainage system and into the dies. ,By having drainage on both the in- This application filed April 1, 1925.

side and the outside, that is, on the plunger and on the inside or outside dies, the drainage surface is doubled, and the time of com pleting the pressing of the pail is very greatly reduced. This provision of inside and outside drainage in the pressing is very important when using a felted blank. Another big advantage of using this felted process from a manufacturing standpoint is that after this felted blank is formed, even in its wet conditio it has sufficient strength to be handled, without much danger of being broken, as distinguished from the old method in which the receptacles being formed, even after pressing, are so flimsy that. unless care is used, they will be destroyed in handling. In addition to this greater strength which a felted. pail or other receptacle has While still wet, the double drainage extracts the maximum amount of water, thereby simplifying the drying prob lem. Another advantage of importance under my improved process is that when the pails Or other receptacles are dried, and are ready to receive the hoops, handles,and the i like, it. is possible to cheapen the application of sealing wires, handles, and the like, by the use of methods rendered possible-because of the much greater strength and toughness of my improved felted containers, which would be impossible under the heretofore known processes. The finished container is much stronger, comparative tests showing it to be from three to four times stronger, tougher and in every way more durable and more satisfactory than containers made under the old processes of molding.

By the heretofore known processes of forming fibrous pulp containers, the pulp has been merely introduced in a mass into a press or form, withoutregardto the lay or arrangement of the fibers with relation to each other and. presseed into shape. In the present invention, as pointed out above, I so treat and handle the pulp that the fibers will fall in cries-cross relation, thus becommg felted, and adding very greatly to the strength of the pail or other container, be-

for reducingthis methodfto practice; turther to produce an improved fibrous pulp container or the like; further to felt or lay the fibersacross-each other so that they will be substantially i woven together 1 in interlocking relation; further to so formand treat the iibrous pulp pail' orother container that it may; bemore readily and safely handled,

while still green and before pressing; turt-her to produce a pail or other container hips, and while I have shown therein preblanks.

ferred embodiments of apparatus for carrying myimproved process into effect, I desire it to be understood that the same are susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig.1 is a vertical sectional side elevational view through one form of my lIn proved apparatus for forming the pail Fig; '2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the lower portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1, also showing the form in cross section;

Fig. 3,-is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

1 Fig. 1 is a. sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, showingthe felted blank asit appears prior to the pressing operation.

Fig. 5 shows the felted blank removed from theiorm.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View of a press .in which the pail blanks are pressed into final form, and showingthe blank after being-placed on the plunger prior to elevating the same to the dies.

Fig. .7' is an enlarged sectional view, showing the plunger with the pail blank between the dies. 7

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a finished pail made by the process of the pres ent invention.

In the form of apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, the pulp -1 in a thin condition is poured into tank 2, through the inlet pipe F, in which is mounted any suitable form of valve 4, and which tank 2 is mounted upon a suitable bottom member 5 in substantially air-tight relation. Slidably mounted in tank 2 is the pressure head 3, which will be hereinafter more fully explained.' Inthe bottom of tank 2, and upon the floor portion 5, is positioned the form 6, of a shape corresponding to that desired in "the container. being manufactured. This form may be of any suitable material, such as metal, cloth, wood, or the like, and has itsside and bottom portions perforated as shown at 7. Closely surrounding the sides andbottoni of the form is a line mesh screen 8, which may be of any suitable material, such as metal, cloth, or thelike. This screen overlies the apertures? in the form, and being of fine mesh prevents the entry of the pulp fibers into the apertures.

Extending through bottom'portion 5 to the space within form 6 is pipe 9,which' will have connection with any suitable suction producing means to maintain apartial vacuum within form 6. To facilitate the felt ing of the pulp fibers on the forn'n'l'have provided vibrating means for vibrating both the tank and the form, and which comprises eccentrics 10 and 11, driven 'by any suitable motor 12, and operating in eccentric straps slidably positioned at theinner ends of levers 12 and 13, pivoted at'l l and15,

bration of form 6'is affected through link" 17 by connecting the same to'a suitable ring, or the like, 19,'extending upwardly from whicharespaced arms 20, carryingat their upper ends spider 21 which, as shownin Fig. '3, comprises a pluralityof. pointed arms 22, touching the inner surface of the'forin, so that vibration of ring 19 will in turn vibrate the form. The amount of vibration to which these parts are subjected is prefer ably small, and is employed. to facilitate" the more ready felting of the fibersupon'the form.

Assuming tank 2 to be filled with thin pulp, as shown'in Fig. 1, a suction will-then be created within for-n16, through pi e 9, the action of which will be to draw the t in pulp to thesides and bottom of the form, the water passing through the apertures 7 and the fibers being arrested by'screen 8. This action will cause'the fibers to arrange them selves substantially in criss-cross or felted relation, which felting action, as stated above, may, if desired, be accelerated and assisted by vibration of either or both of the tank andthe ttorm.

Also, if desired, pressure may be applied during this operation by forcing head 3 and apply the pressure first. Also, I may at times desire to omit pressure from head 3, and permit the thin pulp to settle by gravity, assisted if desired by suction through apertures 7 of the form. Thus by varying the se quence of these steps, I am enabled to vary the condition of the finished form of the pulp, as desired.

Fig. 4 shows the plunger 8 in its lowere-c position, and the fibers of the pulp collected against the sides and bottom of the form, it being understood that the water in the thin pulp originally placed in the tank has been withdrawn through apertures 7, and suction pipe 9. It will thus be obvious that I an. en.- abled to withdraw a very considerable amount of the waterin the pulp from the blank thus formed, which greatly facilitates and shortens the pressing and finishing operatlons. The pall blank of Fig. 4, after removal from form 6, isshown in cross-section in Fig. 5.

After the blank has been formed in the apparatus heretofore described, to bring the pulp into felted condition with its fibers lying in criss-cross relation, the blank is then ready to be transferred to the press, which may be done by leaving the blank and form together and applying the form over the plunger head or, when desired, by removing the blank from the form and applying the blank alone to the plunger head. Due to the fibers of the blaiir being felted, the blank will possess suflicient strength to be handled without the form, before pressing, if desired. One form of press is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the former of which views shows the plunger head 40 in lowered position with the blank applied thereto. Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross section, showing the plunger head as being elevated to bring the blank between the die members 41. These dies are moved inwardly through action of the toggle joint members 43, through suitable coacting parts to compress the fibers of the blank against the plunger head 40. Simultaneously with the compression movement of dies 41, the die 42 for forming the pail bottom, is lowered, and functions to press said bottom to final form. It is of importance to note that the plunger head 40 is provided with a plurality of perforations 44 throughout its sides, and is grooved throughout its upper surface, as shown at 45. There are also formed in the sides of the plunger head a series of channels or grooves 46 having connection with said apertures 44. The function of these grooves and apertures to provide ready drainage for the moisture 1n pulp contained in said vessel.

the blank being pressed, and in order to prevent entry of any of the fibers into these grooves and apertures, the plunger is provided with a fine mesh covering indicated generally at 47. To provide ample and free drainage for the exterior of the blank, grooves 48 are formed in the inner faces of dies 41, and openings 49 and grooves are formed in die 42. To prevent entry of fibers thereinto, grooves 48 and 50, and apertures 49 are covered with fine mesh screens 51 and 52, respectively, seen in Fig. 6. This arrangement gives ample and complete drainage from both sides of the blank being pressed, and is of vital importance in pressing felted blanks. A finished felted pressed pail is shown in Fig. 8.

In place of the steel dies, I may also use a rubber bag, which will greatly simplify matters and permit the making of various sizes of pails with slight changes in the press.

Since the size of tank 2 may be varied, as desired, it will be seen that in the above invention, I am able to prepare and lay the fibers in crisscross relation and measure the amount of pulp necessary for the blank being formed.

I claini as my invention:

1. A method of forming fibrous pulp containers, comprising applying thin pulp to the exterior of a perforated form of the desired shape positioned to have fine pulp ap plied thereto from a pulp containing vessel, and vibrating the vessel to assist the pulp fibers to felt, and applying pressure to the 2. A method of forming fibrous pulp containers, comprising applying thin pulp to the exterior of a perforated form of the desired shape positioned to have fine pulp applied thereto from a pulp containing vessel, and vibrating the vessel to assist the pulp fibers to felt onthe form, applying pressure to the pulp contained in said vessel, and creating a suction through said perforations.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a chamber for receiving and holding thin pulp, a form associated with said chamber and adapted to have pulp applied thereto from said chamber, and means to vibrate the chamber walls.

4. In apparatus of the class described. a chamber for receiving and holding thin pulp, a perforated form associated with said chamber and adapted to have pulp applied thereto from said chamber, and means to vibrate the chamber walls, and means to create a suction through said perforations.

JESSE B. HAWLEY. 

